England enjoy luck against the Irish as rain intervenes

Paul Collingwood's team could muster only a vulnerable 120-8 on an awkward pitch after being asked to bat first at the Guyana National Stadium.

But after Ireland had started and had to stop their reply twice, and got as far as 14-1 from 3.3 overs, the 5pm local time cut-off was reached.

International Cricket Council rules stipulate that five overs of a second innings must be completed to constitute a Duckworth-Lewis result and since that was not possible, England progress alongside group winners the West Indies thanks to a far superior run rate.

Ireland were therefore left to rue their collapse last week against the hosts, which put their run rate in such a parlous and uncompetitive state.

England were indebted to their Dublin-born middle-order batsman Eoin Morgan's 45 for helping them set a moderately testing target, which duly became irrelevant following the subsequent downpours.

England, controversially defeated on the D/L method by the West Indies on Monday, once again lost the toss.

They stuttered to 49-4 at the midway point of their innings, as Trent Johnston and George Dockrell exploited the conditions with miserly spells.

But Morgan kept his head, initially again in company with Luke Wright, and cashed in at the finish with some typically inventive and well-placed shots.

Even he eventually picked out a deep fielder to go in the final over, leaving Ireland's batsmen the task of finishing what their bowlers started – something they had singularly failed to do when they were bowled out for only 68 by the West Indies – only to be denied the opportunity of redemption because of the weather.

New Zealand advanced to the Super Eights with a seven-run victory over Zimbabwe in a rain-shortened game.

New Zealand had bowled Zimbabwe out for just 84 and reached 36-1 in replay after 8.1 overs when rain intervened and no further play was possible.